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Hong Kong Code-mixing Dictionary

A contemporary Cantonese-English dictionary


10 random words out of 852 results

dank you

Definition: Originated from 'thank you' and often pronounced as '釘橋' meaning nail bridge in Cantonese, this is a code-mixing term used by working class Hong Kongers to express their gratitude towards someone.

Usage: E.g. Dank you哂你幫我手呀。不如我今日請你食lunch好嗎?(Thank you for helping me out. What about I treat you lunch today?)

Synonym: thank you, 釘橋

Reference: https://www.instagram.com/p/DLR0QEuMT7j/ (use mobile version)

mm goi jeh jeh

Definition: A romanised code-mixing phrase used by westernised Hong Kongers when they cannot get the f**k out the train on the MTR. Literal meaning: Please move aside.

Usage: E.g. Mm goi. (唔該) *nobody moves* Mm ho yi si. (唔好意思) *nobody moves* Mm goi jeh jeh! (唔該借借) *people move out of the way*

Synonym: 唔該借借

odd

Definition: A code-mixing adjective term used by native Hong Kongers to describe something that is peculiar or unexpected, which is usually milder compared to the Cantonese equivalent word '怪' meaning strange.

Usage: E.g. 莊雅婷有點odd odd 哋的美學,和鍾培生可說是絶配,但鄉港人唔會識欣賞。 (Angel Chong is a bit of odd in aesthetics, which is a perfect match with Derek Chung, but Hong Kong people will not appreciate.)

Synonym: 怪

Reference: https://www.threads.com/@timorese2332/post/DVnTY5-jiQo?xmt=AQF0qy0bkiofGtnpzBvRV8K80eRv2Va6md233oSjBwnVGUCCMt_lLP7oN7zuNkcGOPG9nm0h&slof=1

slow ton ton eat wonton

Definition: Known as Kongish, this is a code-mixing phrase used by native Hong Kongers to describe someone who does things very slowly.

Usage: E.g. Get work done quickly! Stop slow ton ton eat wonton!

Synonym: 慢吞吞食雲吞

freerider

Definition: A code-mixing term used by local Hong Kong students to refer to a person who does not do any work in a group project but gets credit for it.

Usage: E.g. Q: 大家見過最癲freerider係點? A: 試過group project分工之後 個freerider唔見左人 唔聽電話 唔睇 group message 直到present完之後先出現 (Q: Has anyone seen what the craziest freerider is like? A: I used to work in a group project where the freerider disappeared and we could not reach him by phone or group message. Then the freerider appeared after the presentation finished.)

Synonym: 自由騎士

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/2241139/page/7

hello

Definition: Often pronounced as 'ha-lo', this is a code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers often use to greet somebody instead of '你好', which sounds too formal sometimes.

Usage: E.g. Ha-lo,我叫Peter。你叫咩名?

Synonym: 哈佬

close

Definition: A more suitable way to describe how close a relationship is than the word ‘親密’ (intimate).

Usage: E.g. 你同你個friend close唔close架?E.g. 你有幾多個close friend?

Synonym: 親密

match

Definition: A code-mixing term that native Hong Kongers use to describe something or someone that is very similar to or combines very well with something or someone.

Usage: E.g. 哇,D顏色好match呀。 E.g. 你地簡直係perfect match呀!

Synonym: 配

touchwood

Definition: (noun) A code-mixing term that Hong Kongers say in order to avoid bad luck, which is similar to '大吉利是' in Cantonese.

Usage: E.g. Touchwood講句,如果件貨聽日唔準時到,請問要等到幾時呢?

Reference: https://lihkg.com/thread/733616/page/1

revamp

Definition: A code-mixing term that working class Hong Kongers often use to refer to changing something in order to improve or make it new again, such as a website.

Usage: E.g. 個website做revamp要幾耐?

Synonym: 翻新

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